Transcona square turns pink for 8-year-old transgender girl

Pink flamingos and balloons poppedup in Transcona on Saturdayin support of Isabella Burgos, an eight-year-old girl who recently spoke out about being transgender.

About 50 people gathered atTranscona Centennial Square around middayforPink 4 Bella,an event thatalsoraisedawareness of transgender issues.

• Winnipeg family says they're bullied because daughter is transgender
• Support comes from across Canada for transgender 8-year-old

Isabella was born a boy but transitioned over the summer and now identifies as a girl.

The Grade 3 student and her parents said they had to deal withbullying when she started the new school year as a girl.

Isabella said a classmate's parenttold her she could not use the girls' washroom at school. The same womanalso confronted her mother and brother, according to the family.

But since the family spoke out about theirexperience earlier this month, Isabella has received messages by mail and on social media from people commendingher decision to talk publicly about her experience.

Family memberssaid they are overwhelmed by the support and encouragement they have received from people as far away as the Netherlands and Japan.

"She just wants to be a girl like any other girl so, like, it's been stressful.It has been hard on our family," said William Perry McCafferty, Isabella's older brother.

"We're hoping for the bestand reaching out and seeing all the support we want to see a difference made."

Isabella is currently using a gender-neutral washroomat Joseph Teres School. Her parents said she was initially allowed to use the girls' washroom until the parent complained.

Her family has launched a human rights complaint against the River East Transcona School Division.

Isabella's parents said they have reached out to the Manitoba Human Rights Commission for help. Mediation with the school division is the next step, they added.

"It's not just about bathrooms, it's just about basic human rights," said Dale Burgos, her father.

"We don't segregate colours anymore, and this is just along the same line. It's about human rights."